Garment-supporter.



PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

C. A. COUCH.

GARMENT SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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I NITLED STATES Patented. November 1, 1904.

PATENT Erica.

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ALBERT E. FLINT AND CHARLES WVALDO, OF l/VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ANDH. LITTLE,

OF NEW V YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.773,715, dated November 1, 1904.

Application filed March 1'7, 190 1.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. COUCH, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Garment-Supporter, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of garters which are employed forwomens stockings.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a simple,inexpensive, and efiicient construction for supporting a garter from acorset, the connection being especially designed to permit a freeswinging motion of a garter-strap or other parts suspended therefrom.

To these ends this invention consists of the buckle or connection as anarticle of manufacture and of the combinations of parts therein, ashereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim atthe end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of part, ofa corset side, showing a clasp or connection constructed ac-- cording tothis invention applied thereto. Fig. 1 is a detail view of a modifiedconstruction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the claspin open position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts whichcooperate to form the detachable connection and the lock for the same.Fig. 1 is a view showing the parts locked in connected position. Figs. 5and 6 are perspective 'views illustrating modified forms ofconstruction. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a corset side piece withsheet-metal socket-pieces having the form of eyelets secured therein.Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of one of the eyelet socket-pieces, and Fig.9 is a sectional view of the same.

The especial object of the present invention is to provide a detachableconnection for supporting a garter from a cors et, which connec-- tionwill permit a free swinging motion of a garter-strap and in which theparts may, if

I either side out.

Serial No. 198,600. (No model.)

The garter-strap G is detachably connected with a sheet-metal piece 10,having the strapreceiving slots 11. At its upper end the sheetmetalpiece 10 is provided with a T-shaped head 12. The T-shaped head 12 formsthe tongue, which engages a keyhole-shaped socket in a sheet-metal piecesecured to the corset.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 1 of the drawingsthe socket-piece or attachment for the corset is made in the form of aclasp. As illustrated in Fig. 2, this corset attachment comprises a backpiece 13, having a perforated extension 1 1, which may be sewed to thecorset, if desired. Bent from the back piece 18 are the side arms 15,pivoted in which is the sheet-metal piece 16, having the usualclamping-teeth '17 at its upper end. Both members 13 and 16 of the claspmay be provided with keyhole-shaped openings 18, so that the clasp maybe put on with The vertical dimension of the keyhole-shaped opening 18is sufiicient to permit the T-shaped head 12 to be inserted or removedtherefrom when swung or turned sidewise from normal position, and thebottoms of the keyhole-shaped openings 18 are preferably rounded orcurved to permit the swinging motion hereinafter explained. Cooperatingwith the keyhole-shaped opening 18 of the piece 16, as most clearlyillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4:, is a pivoted locking-piece 19, having afinger which is normally turned to one side, as illustrated in Fig. 3,and which can be swung into position over the T-shaped head 12 to lockthe parts together, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The locking-piece 19 maybe operated by a stud extending through to the face of the clasp, asshown. In this construction it will be seen that a movable locking-pieceis arranged to cooperate with the keyhole-shaped opening, thislocking-piece being moved out of position when the T-shaped head is tobe inserted or removed and holding the parts locked together whendesired.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 the keyhole-shaped opening 18is made in a small substantially triangular plate 30. The plate 80 isprovided with a slot 31, which receives the tape which is sewed to thecorset. These small plates 80 are intended to be attached to corsetswhen they are made, and if not desired by the purchaser of the corsetsthey can be readily cut 05.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the corset attachmentconsists of a piece of sheet metal folded back upon itself to form twosections separated by a lip 24. The attachment is provided through itsfront face with a keyhole-shaped opening 25, cooperating with which is alocking-piece 19, as before described. Extending back from the face ofthe attachment are prongs 26, which may be directly headed into thefabric of the corset, or, if preferred, the arms 26 may furnish thebearings for a safety-pin, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive. the corset attachments are madesubstantially in the form of large eyelets. As illustrated, each of thesheet-metal pieces or eyelets 27 is provided with a keyhole-shapedopening substantially of the same shape as before referred to, and.cooperating with each of the eyelets I also preferably provide a springlocking-tongue 28, which may be carried by a washer or sheet-metal piecesecured beside one of the flanges or skirts of the eyelet.

In the use of the eyelet form of a corset at tachment the spring-tongue28 will form, in efiect, a locking-finger which may be pushed out ofplace when the T-shaped head is to be inserted or removed, but whichwill move back into place to lock the parts together after the T-shapedhead is inserted.

In the use of all the constructions herein illustrated the rounding orcurved bottom of the keyhole-shaped openings will permit a free swingingmotion of the garter-straps, and I regard this as important, as garterswhen thus supported will not put any material restraint upon the freedomof motion of the wearer.

I am aware that changes may be made in the construction of catches orbuckles according to this invention Without departing from the scopethereof as expressed in the claim. I do not wish, therefore, to belimited to the constructions I have herein shown and described; but

WVhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

As an article of manufacture, a detachable connection for supporting agarter comprising a sheet-metal socket-piece having provision forfastening the same to a corset, and having a socket of inverted-keyholeshape, and a sheet-metal garter-piece having provision for connectionwith a garter-strap, with an integral extension at one end which is bentout at an angle from the face of the garter-piece and is turned backover the face of the garter-piece, and is provided with a T -shaped headto be normally fastened in the keyholeshaped socket, and which isremovable therefrom when raised and tipped from normal position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHAS. A. COUCH.

Witnesses:

PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE, LOUIS WVJSOUTHGATE.

